Basket-lining device



May E3, H30. c. J. DUDLEY BASKET LINING DEVICE Filed July 8, 1929 COLON J. DUO

Patented May 13, 1930.

UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE 001.01: J. norm, or HAMBURG, NEW YORK, assumes no JOHN B. vrrnn, rnnnsnvanm CE, BIG-LER- BASKET-LINING DEVICE My invention relates in general to basket lining devices, and in particular to such devices as are used in connection with baskets to be filled with fruit and the like.

[I It is well known to those skilled in the art that heretofore liners of this nature have been made in permanent cone-frustrum form for fitt'mg into a bushel basket, and of such weight and kind of material that when the basket was placed over a filled l1ner and inverted, the liner was depended upon to tear at various points so as to increase the size of the liner to permit it and the contained fruit to expand and fill all inequalities in the basket.

The principal object of m invention has been to provide a liner, the en s of which shall be temporarily fastened together, and which ends are released when-the liner having been filled with fruit is in place within the basket,

whereby the entire liner is permitted to expand within the basket and the contents of the basket thus properly packed.

' Moreover, it has been an object to provide a liner which may be used on a variety of sizes and shapes of baskets without breaking, each liner being initially sized before the ends thereof are temporarily secured together.

Furthermore, since one fastening means is used repeatedly, the liners may be inexpensively made; and, since they are made flat, they can be conveniently packed and shipped.

The above objects and advantages have been accomplished by the device shown in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan, view of one of my liners flat and extended.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of my liners rolled up in form and havin its ends secured together by the temporary astening.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of m liner in osition in a bushel basket and led with uit. My invention comprises a liner 5 which is made of suitable sheet material, such as cardboard or heavy paper of the proper strength and stiffness, and of such character that it will readily conform to the shape of the basket or container when the temporary fastening means has been removed. The material is, however, stifi and strong enough to support the column of fruit placed within it, while the usual reinforcing shell used in,

connection with such linings is being removed and the basket being placed over the liner. The side edges 6 and 7 of the liner are arcuate so that when the ends 8 and 9 are brought to ether a cone-frustrum shaped container will e formed. The edges of the ends 8 and 9 are, of course, cut on a line which is radial to the center of the circlesof which the arc-shaped edges 6 and 7 are parts. The end 9 is preferably formed with a pluralit of radially arranged scored lines 10, whic provide means for gaugin the size of the complete liner, the edge 0 the end 8 of the liner bein brought into registering osition with whic ever of the score marks W1 1 make the desired size ofthecone-frustrum of the liner. The liner is preferably providedwith a plurality of ventilating holes 11.

When the ends of my liner are brought together so as to provide the proper size, a wire pin or other suitable fastening means 12 is passed a number of times through the lapping ends of the liner as shown in Fig. 2, thus securely fastening them together. This fastening means, as shown in Fig. 2 is provided with a sharpened point 13 at one end-and at its opposite end with a ring or eyelet 14. The pin is made of material stiff enough so that it can be easily forced through the material forming the liner.

When the liner is arranged for the packingoperation as just above described, it is inverted and'placed upon the facing plate usually used in pacln'ng operations, whereupon a reinforcing shell is placed around it. This reinforcing shell as well as the facing plate are well known and they are, therefore, not shown in the drawings, since they form no part of my invention. The fruit or other articles being packed are now placed on the inside of the liner and when the same is filled, the reinforcing shell is then removed and the bushel basket 15, shown in Fig. 3, or other crate or container being used, is placed over the liner, and thebasket, liner, facing plate, and the contents of the liner are inverted, whereupon the facing plate is removed. The pin 12 is now withdrawn from the ends of the liner which releases the ends of the liner and permits it to freely expand, as shown in Fig. 3, to a degree necessary to rmit the liner with its contents to settle in the basket and to conform to the inner surface of the basket when shaken or jolted. The temporary fastenin pin 12, after having been removed from the 'ner, is immediately ready for reuse.

Obviously, some modifications of the details herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims, and I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact embodiment herein shown and described, the form shown being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a packing liner for use in packing fruit and the like havin removable means coacting with portions 0 the liner to hold the same against expansion, the liner, when said means is removed, belng so constructed as to permit expansion of the liner, said means ermitting its removal to be effected when t e liner is full without the disturbance of the content therein.

- 2. As a new article of manufacture, a packing liner for use in packing fruit and the like having removable rod coacting with portions of the liner to hold the same against expansion, the liner, when said rod is removed, bein so constructed as to provide expansion 0 the liner, said rod permitting its removal to be efiected when the liner is full without disturbance of the content there- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

COLON J. DUDLEY. 

